Vending machine for stationery



Jan. 8, 1929. I 1,698,644

.J, H. MOCUTCHEN VENDING MACHINE FOR STATIONERY Filed July 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR J/im C'ui'C/aen ATTORNEY Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,644

J. H. M CUTCHEN VENDING MACHINE FOR STATIONERY 1. ed July 26, 1927 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jffl Cuficfi/en L ATTORNEY Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,644

J. H. M CUTCHEN VENDING. MACHINE FOR STATIONERY Filed July 26. 1927 4 Sheet t 5 -J. H. M CUTCHEN VENDING MACHINE FOR STATIONERY Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,644

Filed July 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i i/d6.

I 71 la '31. 70

A g; J INVENTOR iii/0.8. JflM Cuficken.

4% 7 BY J Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

A rte-ate JOHN-H. McCU'TCfHEN, or ei/rents; TENNESSEE.

resume ivuicrima roe STATIONERY.

Application filed. J1i1y26, I927. sen-e1 T0. 208584.

This invention relates to a vending machine for stationery. p

An object of the invention is-the provision of a device for vending a stamped envelope and a sheet ofp'aper upon the insertion of a coin of a-"predetermined s'i'ze'in which 'aanovable storage container is progressively lowered-so that each open end of the compartmentin the container is dis'po'se'd adjaoent the opening in the housing'to permit the envelope and paper to be discharged by gravity.

Anotherobjec't ofthe invention isth'eprovision of a device for 'vending sheetsof paper and an envelope simultaneously, an'din which a plungerrod is ada'pted'to be manually operated for' releasin the container for downward vertical'mov'ement' so that the'open ends of the plurality of compartments in which the envelopes and paper are stored will successivelyr'egister'with an opening inthe housin'gin closing the container, said container being lowered by incremental pairs of'steps for the discharge of each group ofarticles from a compartment, such pair 'o'f step by step movement being accomplished toan inward and return stroke of the actuating lunger. I p a A still further object of the invent-ion is the provision of a dis ensing device for vending sheets of Writing 'paper"simultaneously with a stamped envelope,'a'nd in which-a plunger is employed to actuate a: releasin'gnieans for a slidably mounted container, means being ,"e1nployed for preventinglthe return stroke of the plunger before saidplunger has been moved to its full inward stroke in order to=insure the full working stroke of the vending device and a complete actuation of the instrumentalitie's includedin the vending devic'etordispensing the articles therefrom.

This invention will be'bestund'erstoodfrom a considerationot the tollo'wi'ng'detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the-salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended'claim's.

Figure 1 is a viewin'pe'r'spective'with parts broken away of my vending device con str'ucted in accordance with. the provision-e of my invention Figure-2 is a vertical section-otthe'd'evice shown in Figure 1; e

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 3--3 of'Fi-gurefz;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along'theline 4% of Figure 2;

Figure dis a view in perspective of the double acting pawl for controlling the lowering of the storage chamber ofthe dispens ingdevic'e'; V I

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken along the line':6-"6 o f Figure 2; k t

Figure is ahorizontal section-taken along the line'77of'Figure2;and 1 Figure 8 is a fragmentary 'vertical section ofthe plunger disclosed at the end of its complete inward working stroke;

Referring more particularly to -the"draw ings', 1O designates a base member to which is secured side walls 11 and-'12. Eachof the side walls are=cutawa yattheir upper ends to provide "a re'duced section 13' anda 'sh'oul der 14, a plate or member -15 is' s'ecu'red inany approved'mannerto the 'sh'ould'er 14, and a door 16 1s hinged at' 17 to the sidewalls 11.

Means is provided on the othe'r'end' of the door-and the'other side wall l2 for-locking the door against ainaiithorized relations and includes a pair ofstraps 18 and '19 hingedly connected together at 20,"the'strap 18 secured to the door 16and the strap 19 provided with a slot 21 to receive a st'apl'e 22, the'staple' secured to the sidewall B and is'adapted to receive a padlock 23 which "will prevent actuation'of-th'e member 19 when thelock is in posi- -tion'. 'The upper edge of the door 16 is adapted to abut th'e rear edge ofa top member 24, whilethevlower edge is adapted to lie in snug contact with the upper face of the member 15. A rear wall-25 ijs'se'cure'd 'to'the :rear-e'dge'of the side walls and base member 11 and to-themember15. All of the elements .justdescribed comprise- "the housing "of the vending machine;

Atill or receptacle 26 is'located in'the lower end of the housing and secured in any-apany suitable constrnction for prev'entingunauthorized HIfiDIPHlfit-IOIT of the door.

The till is located directly below the slidably inou'ntedplunger31.-

Ion

- metal plate 32 which has a dispensing slot plunger 31. any approved manner to the side walls of the base member 11 and the top 24.

33 7 intermediate its ends, an opening 34 through which the plunger 31 is reciprocated, and a laterally projecting shelf 35 upon which the plunger rests, and which provides an additional function of supporting a coin which is located in a slot 36 in the outer end of the The front wall 32 is secured in A pair of guide rods 37 and 38 have their lower endsvsecure d. to a plate 39 which is secured to the base memberv 11. The upper ends of each of the rods is received by a bracket 40, said bracket being bolted to the slde walls 12. A container generally desig- 'nated by the numeral 41 has a pair of side walls 42 and 43 provided with grooves 44 inclined at an angle to the horizontal to receive plates 45. The space between the said plates forms a compartment to receive an envelope and'letter paper which is adapted to be discharged through the opening 33 in the front wall 32 when thefront or openend 46 or" each compartment is. alined with the slot 33. A top wall 47 and a bottom wall 48 are secured to the opposite edges of the side walls 42 and 43. Pairs of strap arms 49 are secured to the outer faces of the top and bottom walls of the container 41 and are perforated to receive the rods 37 and 38.

A rack 50 is secured by means of brackets 51 and 52 and a plate 53 is secured to the side wall 43, and as shown in Figure 2 a metal plate 54 is also secured to the side wall 42. These plates are inclined'at an angle to the 7 vertical as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The

rack 50 has teeth 55 inclining downwardly and adapted to be in engagementwith either one of a pair of pawls 56 or 57. An oscillating member shown more particularly in Figure 5 and indicated generally by the'numeral 58 has pawls56 and 57 in vertical alinement.

I An arm 59 extends laterally trointhe oscillating member 58 and is provided with a rigidly mounted pintle 60 which is threaded to receive a nut 61 at one side of the bracket arm 62. A pintle 60 is received within a passage in the bracket 62 whereby the oscillating member 58 is rockably mounted on said The bracket has an arm having a passage to receive the rod 38 and a set screw 63 secures the bracket to the rod 38 and maintains the same in a predetermined horizontal position. The oscillating member 58 is provided with a bar 64 adapted tobe engaged by a pair of lugs'65 or 66 causing rocking of the member 58 and alternate engagement and disengagement of the dogs 56 and 57 with the teeth 55 of the rack 50.

A plunger 31 is slidably mounted in a passage 34 in a plate 67 which is secured across an opening 68 formed in the front wall 32. This plate is secured in any approved man by means of nuts 72 to the rear wall 25 ofthe housing. A coil spring 73 embraces the rod 71 and is adapted to have one end in engagement withv the inner end 74 of the plunger 31, while the other end of the spring is in en gagement with a pair of washers 75 mounted on the rod 71 and in engagement with the nut 72 located within the housing. A sleeve 7 6 embraces the spring 73 and is adapted to abut at one end the washer 75 and at its other end the inner end 74 otthe plunger 31 when the said plunger has been moved to its com plete inward stroke. The length of the sleeve is such that the complete. inward stroke may be had of the plunger while aiding in maintaining the spring 73 in proper position on is adapted to limit the movement of the arm 84 in the opposite directions of its vertical movement.

' A pawl is pivotally mountedat 91 on the plunger 31 and has a toe 92 adapted to.

engage the .rear angular inclined teeth 93 formed on the upper edge of the rack 94, which is secured to the side wall 12 ot' the housing. A pair of springs 95 and 96 are secured to the pawl intermediate its ends and to the plunger 31 for maintaining the pawl 90 in a vertical position. It will be noted that the toeof the pawl is located below the upper edge of the'teeth and that the rack has a bevelled edge 97 at the forward en (1., and also a bevelled or inclined edge 98 at the inner or rear end for the purpose which will be presently explained. I

The operation of my device is as tollows z- It will be noted that since the teeth 55 the rack 50 extend downwardly the rack may be moved upwardly and, likewise the cont ainer 41 elevated, so that the member 58 will be idly rocked and the pawls 56 and 57 will not have any efi'ect upon the upward movement. It will be appreciated that one of the I the plates 45, and or in. otherwords theyare filled inthe various compartments formedby said plates. Due to the angl'e-ofincliimtion of each of the plates the envelopeswrll tend to move downwardly by; gravity 'andhave their loweredges in engagement with the-inner face of the front wall 32 of'the housing, and the' vending device is now' in'condition-for dispensing the envelopes. In order to obtain an envelope from the vending machine, it"is necessary to place a coin 100 in the -slot 36 of the plunger 3-1 and such coin will rest upon the shelf '35 and be retained in the slot. The handle 101 of the plunger is manually I grasped and forced inwardly causing the coin 100-to engage the lower edge 84 of the arm 84 and force the arm 84 and catch 83 out of engagement with the shoulder 81 of the plunger 31, thereby releasing the plunger for continued inward movement. As soon as the coin passes beyond the inner faceplunger should accidentally be'released by the operator. This pawl also prevents the return of the plunger 31 by said spring before the plunger has been moved to its full stroke within the casing. Such full stroke is not completed until the pin 66 engages the member 64 forcing the same rearwardly and oscillating the member 58; Oscillation of said member forces the dog 56 out of engagement with the teeth of the rack whereby the weight of the container 41 will cause said container to drop a short distance. Since the dog 56, however, is moved into engagement with the rack 50 it will engage the tooth which is located adjacent said dog and hold the container against further downward movement.

When the plunger is moved inwardly and sufficiently for the toe 92 of the dog 90 to slide over the inclined edge 98 of the rack 94, said dog will drop below the inner end of the rack so that when the plunger is released the spring 73 will return the plunger on its back stroke and cause the pin to engage the member 64 to reversely rock the oscillating member 58. This releases the dog 56 with the tooth and rack 50 and forces the dog 56 into engagement with the tooth of the rack which is adjacent said dog. It will be noted that in this operation the member 58 is oscillated in one direction when the plunger is manually moved inwardly and oscillated in the opposite direction when the plunger is returned to its inoperative position by a spring 731 When the-rack 50 is released .theqcouarticle tobedispensed will fall gravity to said discharge-slot.- .During; the return.

stroke'of theplunger 31v the toe92 wi'l'l-glie over the teeth 93? of the rack'94 until'sitarrives atthe position shown in Figure 3,: where the springs and 7 6 will retain the said dog in vertical position. 7 k

The operation described above will be continued upon each insertion of the coin in the slot 36 and when the plunger has been manually forced inwardly to its full stroke whence it will be returned by the spring 7 3 after fully locating the discharge opening of each compartment to the container upon the slot 37 slot.

I claim:

1. A vending machine comprising a h0us ing having a discharge slot, a container in whence the article will fall by gravity to said the housing having a plurality of compartments for selectively storing articles to be discharged by gravity through said slot,each compartment being provided with a discharge opening adapted to be alined with the discharge slot in'the housing, a rack secured to the container, a lever pivotally mounted in the housing and having spaced dogs adapted to alternately engage the teeth of the rock and provided for incremental lowering of the container, a plunger slidably mounted in the housing and-for manual operation inwardly of the housing, a springfor moving the plunger in the opposite direction, said plunger being provided with spaced lugs upon opposite sides of the lever, and adapted to engage the lever and move the same in opposite directions for rocking said lever and causing alternate engagement of the dog with the teeth of the rack.

2. A vending machine comprising a housing having a discharge slot, a contained in the housing having a plurality of compartments for selectively storing articles to be discharged by gravity through said slot, each compartment being provided with a discharge opening adapted to be alined with the discharge slot in the housing, a rack secured to the container, a lever pivotally mounted in the housing and having spaced dogs adapted to alternately engage the teeth of the rack and provided for incremental lowering of the container, a plunger slidably mounted in the housing and for manual operation inwardly of the housing, a spring for moving the plunger in the opposite direction, said plunging having a discharge slot, a container in .the housing having a plurality of c0mparter being provided with spaced lugs upon opposite sides of the lever, and adapted to engage the lever and move the same in opposite directions for rocking said lever and cansing alternate engagement of the dog with the teeth of the rack, and means for preventing the spring from returning the plunger when manually released before the plunger has been moved to its full inward stroke.

'3. A vending machine comprising a housments for selectively storingart-icles to be discharged by gravity through said'slot, each compartment being provided with a dismoving the lever to an inoperative position.

JOHN H. McGUTCHEN. 

